IBS Week 17

Nick:

IBS Acts 8

I was reading in Acts 8 this morning of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. This passage is both encouraging and convicting. When the angel of the lord told him to rise and go toward the south, he rose and went. John Macarthur’s new testament commentary says that the road down from Jerusalem to Gaza was almost a deserted road that was hot and untraveled. Yet Phillip didn’t question the prompting of the spirit. He was not fearful of what to say, he was not to lazy to go a route that seemed foolish to travel. He simply trusted God. God Prepared this divine appointment, Phillip just had to obey. So the Ethiopian was in his chariot reading in book Isaiah. This was a very wealthy man seated high up in his chariot. To most this would have been an intimidating circumstance to be in. Not for Phillip, He knew the Lord Jesus had sent him there. The Lord then commanded him to join the chariot. So Phillip coming behind the caravan ran up to the chariot and heard him reading Isaiah. Commentary says that it was custom to read out loud in those days. Phillip had to have known this was why the Lord sent him down the abandoned road. He must have been full of excitement and joy, but also boldness.

Julie:

1 Thessalonians 2:12 – “we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

When we are exhorted or encouraged, we are usually complimented or promoted in some way or another.  That little boost of confidence is always a good enhance our walk.  But sometimes we must be humbled to walk in a manner worthy of God.  And how loved are we when He does this?  He sees us as sheep (dumb) walking in the wrong direction, usually blinded by some kind of pride, and He redirects us from walking straight off a cliff.  The humility that follows that kind of “ego blow” is that of lowliness.  But it is a good place to be, because then you can refocus yourself back on God and bask in His love that He has for us.  That state of humility is exactly what make us worthy.  It sounds so backwards to the world, but that is the manner God asks us to walk in and stay in.  I want to be thankful when God brings me back to that point of humility, no matter what the cost.  I want to look at it as His love and guidance for my life.